Opening Day Essential: Homer Blanky

Opening Day Essential: Homer Blanky

By: Allison Kaplan | Posted: March 15, 2013

No self-respecting Minnesota Twins fan with a memory of the Metrodome would dare complain (too loudly) about outdoor baseball. And yet, there is the reality that a blizzard is more likely than a 72 degree day for the April 1 season opener. Heading into the fourth season at Target Field, ticket holders now know to dress in layers, and of course they can buy a sweatshirt or a Twins blanket at the Target Field pro shops. But a group of childhood buddies and lifelong Twin fans, still in possession of their original Homer Hankies (signed by Kirby Puckett!) from the 1987 pennant race, saw opportunity to create a product with more warmth—both functionally, and figuratively.

Introducing the Homer Blanky. Simple, still, so smart. You just know Twins execs are kicking themselves for not thinking of it first. Too late—the creators secured a trademark. Brothers Paul and John Abdo, owners of the MyBurger chain, are among the group of eight St. Paul natives behind the new Homer Blanky. Paul Abdo says he and his pals always hoped to start a business together, and the idea crystallized when they saw fans shivering through the first games ever played at Target Field. They applied for the Homer Blanky trademark in 2010, and hired a friend to design the logo—a baseball diamond over the state of Minnesota.

“Baseball is something close to our hearts,” Paul Abdo says. “We really wanted to make it a hometown thing.” Affordability was another priority, and to that end, they are selling online with little budget for marketing. The blanket is made with a cotton/poly blend, similar to sweatshirt material. The logo is screen printed by a local company. The Homer Blanky is now available, in time for opening day, for $24.98.